Which is a key sign of unreliability in an alibi, according to the material?

• A. Memory of surrounding events being much better or worse than memory of the event
• B. Consistent detail across all times
• C. Agreement with official records
• D. Rapid recall of identical events

Answer: (A)

A key sign to look for is how memory for surrounding details compares to memory for the event itself. If the surrounding context is remembered much better or much worse than the central event, that mismatch points to unreliability. It suggests memory distortion, reconstruction, or fabrication rather than a faithful recall. In contrast, details that stay consistent over time or that align with official records support credibility, and while rapid recall of identical events can feel rehearsed, the deciding cue in this material is the discrepancy between the event memory and the surrounding details.